Closure night-latch



F. w. KREGER 3,381,990

May 7, 1968 CLOSURE NIGHT-LATCH 2 SheetswSheet 1 Filed Aug. 30, 1966 INVENTOR. fjz VIZ/K2176? y 1963 F. w. KREGER 3,381,990

\ CLOSURE NIGHT-LATCH I Filed Aug. 30, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 11/7 Z "a y I 7/ NVENTOR.

25 32 1 14! X/cyef E-E- EEIEEL 2 United States Patent CLOSURE NIGHT-LATCH Fred W. Kreger, Grosse Pointe, Mich, assignor to Sash Controls, Inc., Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed Aug. 30, 1966, Ser. No. 576,109 10 Claims. (Cl. 292--62) This invention relates generally to closures, and particularly to an improved safety or night-latch assembly therefor.

Important objects of the present invention are to provide an improved closure night-latch assembly adapted to selectively lock the closure and bar entry from one side thereof and one which is constructed to prevent part breakage if it is in the locked position when the closure is moved to a closed position.

Further objects of the present invention include the provision of a night-latch assembly of the above character which is reversible for use with right or left-hand closures, which precludes accidental lock-out and which is integrated with the basic latch structure.

Additional objects include the provision of a latch assembly of the above character which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction and reliable in use.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more aparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, illustrating a closure mounted latch assembly embodying the present invention with the closure shown in the closed position and the latch in the unlocked position;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along the line 22 thereof;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of FIG. 2 taken along the line 3-3 thereof;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of FIG. 3 taken along the line 4-4 thereof;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but shown with the latch in the locked position;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the thumb turn for selectively locking and unlocking the night-latch illustrated in FIGS. 1-5;

FIG. 7 is a view of FIG. 6 looking in the direction of the arrow 7;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of the opening thumb turn for manipulating the latch illustrated in r FIGS. 1-5;

FIG. 9 is a view of FIG. 8 looking in the direction of the arrow 9;

FIG. 10 is a view of FIG. 8 looking in the direction of the arrow 10; and

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of FIG. 3 taken along the line 11-11 thereof.

Broadly described, the present invention includes a closure panel slidably disposed in a jamb positioned in an enclosure opening for movement from an open to a closed position, latch means pivotally carried by said closure, a keeper on said jamb and adapted to receive said latch means, cooperable shoulder means on said latch means and said keeper adapted to hold said closure in a closed position when said latch is in a first pivoted position, said latch means being movable to a second pivoted position to move said shoulder means out of cooperable relation and permit said closure to be opened, cooperable detent means on said latch means and keeper for preventing pivotal movement of said latch means out of said first pivoted position, and means on one side of said closure panel for moving said latch means axially on said closure from a 3,38L99tl first position where said detent means is out of cooperative relation to a second position where said detent means is in cooperative relation.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, a latch assembly embodying the present invention is illustrated generally at 21 in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5 and is seen carried by a closure panel 23 and a closure jarnb 25. The jamb 25 is disposed in an opening 22 in a building enclosure Wall 24 and slidably receives the closure panel 23 in the usual manner. The closure panel 23 is of conventional construction and includes extended aluminum rectangularly disposed frame members 27 (only one of which is shown) enclosing a glass pane 29. Suitable mounting and insulating members 31, 33 support the pane 29 within the frame members 27 and seal the joint therebetween. A handle base 35 is secured by screws 37 to the frame member 27 on the inside surface thereof of relative to the enclosure and has a handle 39 fixed thereto in a suitable fashion. A handle or pull 41 is suitably secured to the outside surface of the frame member 27 and together with the inside handle 39 permits easy manipulation of the closure panel 23 from an open position spaced from the jamb 25 to a closed position shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5.

A movable latch device shown generally at 43 is carried by the closure panel frame member 27 adjacent the handles 39, 41. This latch device 43 includes a latch bolt 45 turnably supported at one end in the frame member 27 and near its other end in the handle base 35. The latch bolt 45 has a latch arm 47 integral therewith and projecting laterally thereof through an opening 48 in the end of the frame member 27. The latch arm 47 is adapted to cooperate with a keeper 49 which, together with the latch device 43, defines the latch assembly 21 in a manner to be described to hold the closure panel 23 in a closed position.

As seen in FIGS. 2-5, the latch bolt 45 extends through an opening 51 in the handle base 35 and an opening 53 in a thumb turn 55. An integral lug or key 57 projects radially inwardly of the thumb turn opening 53 and is positioned in a slot or keyway 59 formed in the latch bolt 45 so that the thumb turn and latch bolt 45 turn conjointly. A radially outwardly extending projection 61 n the thumb turn 55 facilitates easy manipulation of the thumb turn.

A night-latch thumb turn 63 is disposed outwardly of the thumb turn 55 and has a generally cylindrically shaped recess 65 rotatbly receiving the end of the latch bolt 45. The night-latch thumb turn 63 is secured to the latch bolt 45 by shouldered screw 67 having its head 68 spaced from the thumb turn 63 so that the night-latch thumb turn 63 and latch bolt 45 move substantially conjointly in an axial direction but are free to turn relative to each other. The inner end 69 of the night-latch thumb turn 63 is generally cylindrical in cross section and is rotatably received in a cylindrical recess 71 in the: outer end of the thumb turn 55. A pair of radially outwardly extending projections 72 on the night-latch thumb turn 63 facilitates easy finger manipulation thereof.

As shown in FIGS. 3-5 and in greater detail in FIGS. 6-10, the night-latch thumb turn 63 and the thumb turn 55 are provided with complementary shape-d cam projections 73 and recesses 75 at the area of the cylindrical end 69 and recess 71, respectively. When the thumb turns 55, 63 are in the rotative position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cam projections 73 seat in the recesses 75 whereas when the night-latch thumb turn 63 is turned to the position shown in FIG. 5, the projections 73 m ve out of the recesses 75 and the nightdatch thumb turn 63 moves axially to the right relative to the thumb turn 55. This, in turn, moves the latch bolt 45 also to the right, as seen in FIG. 5, against the force of 'a compression spring '77 Patented May 7, I968 caged between a shoulder 79 on the latch bolt 45 and a shoulder 81 on the handle base 35. When, thereafter, the night-latch thumb turn 63 is moved to realize the cam projections 73 and recesses 75, the spring 77 moves both the latch bolt 45 and night-latch thumb turn 63 to the left. A cooperating .radia-l lug 83 and arcuate slot 85 on the thumb turn 55 and the night-latch thumb turn 63 limit relative turning movement between the thumb turns 55, 6-3 to an arcuate distance substantially equal to half the pitch of the cam projections 73.

As described above and seen in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5, the keeper 49 is adapted to cooperatively receive the latch arm 47 and hold the closure panel 23 in the closed position. The keeper 49 includes a generally hollow body 87 provided with outwardly extending flanges 8-9, 9 1 secured by screws 93 to a frame member 95 fixed within the jamb 25. The frame member 95 carries seals 96, 98 which cooperate with the closure panel frame 27 to seal the enclosure opening 22 when the panel 23 is closed. The outer end of the keeper body 87 is apertured at 97 and is provided with an upwardly tapered cam surface 99 adapted to cooperate with a downwardly tapered cam surface 101 on an enlarged end 103 of the latch arm 47.

The latch arm 47 is desirably in a horizontal position when the closure panel 23 is in the closed position, as seen in FIG. 1, and is in a raised position pivoted clockwise from the FIG. 1 position when the closure panel 23 is open. The thumb turn 55 is employed to manipulate the latch arm 47 and turning movement thereof is limited by a lug 102 on the handle base 35 and which is received in an arcuate slot 104 in the thumb turn 55. The spring 77 acting between the shoulders '79, 31 imposes a sufiicient frictional force on the latch 43 to hold it and the thumb turn 55 in these positions so that when the closure panel 23 is moved to the closed position, the enlarged latch arm end 103 clears the keeper cam surface 99 and moves into the aperture 97. However, should the latch arm 47 be in a horizontal position when the closure panel 23 is moved to the closed position, engagement between the cam surfaces 99, 1011 on the keeper body 87 and the latch arm enlarged end 103 causes the latch ar 47 to pivot upwardly or clockwise as seen in FIG. 1. The latch arm enlarged end 103 is then free to move into the aperture 97 and none of the parts are damaged.

After the parts are so positioned, the latch arm 47 is turned downwardly or counterclockwise as seen in FIG. 1 by manipulation of the thumb turn 55 and adjacent shoulders 5, 167 on the keeper body 87 and the latch arm enlarged end 103, respectively, hold the closure panel 23 in the closed position. When it is desired to open the closure panel 23, the latch arm 47 is swung upwardly or clock-wise as seen in FIG. 1, by manipulating the thumb turn 55 or by turning a conventional key cylinder 106 supported in the outside handle 41 and keyed to the latch bolt 45, until the shoulders 105, 10-7 in the keeper body 87 and the latch arm enlarged end 103 are disengaged.

It is desirable to provide a positive, safety or nightlatch arrangement for the latch arm 47 which, when actuated, prevents the latch arm 4-7 from being swung upwardly except from within the enclosure. In the past, locking constructions of this type, commonly referred to as night-latches, employed structure which, if inadvertently actuated when the closure panel 23 is open, can re s'ult in damage to some of the parts when the panel 23 is moved to the closed position. This problem is overcome in the present invention by a construction adapted to prevent the parts from engaging if they are not properly positioned when the closure panel 23 is moved to the closed position.

Thus, as seen in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5, the enlarged latch arm end 103 has a laterally extending slot 111 adapted to selectively receive and cooperate with a lug 1'13 formed on the keeper body 87. This slot 111 and lug 113 together form detent means which, when engaged, as shown in FIG. 5, prevent turning movement of the latch arm 47.

4- When the slot 1111 and lug 113 are disengaged, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the latch arm 47 is free to turn as described above.

The night-latch thumb turn 63 is adapted to selectively move the latch arm 47 axially along the axis of the latch bolt 45 and position the detent slot 11 1 and lug 1-13 in or out of cooperative relation as shown in FIG. 5 and in FIGS. 2 and 4. As described above, when the cam projections 73 on the night-latch thumb turn 63 are positioned in the cam recesses 75 in the thum turn 55, the compression spring 77 biases the latch bolt toward the left as seen in FIG. 4. In this position, the detent slOt 1-11 and lug 1 13 are disengaged and the latch bolt 45 and arm 4-7 are free to turn either by manipulation of the thumb turn 55 or by turning the key cylinder 106 from outside the enclosure. Thus, with the parts in this position, the latch 43 can be disengaged from inside or outside the enclosure. However, when the cam projections 73 on the night-latch thumb turn 63 are positioned intermediate the cam recesses 75 on the thumb turn 55, the night-latch thumb turn 63 and the latch bolt 45 are moved axially toward the right from the position shown in MG. 4 to the position shown in FIG. 5. This, in turn, engages the detent slot 11d and lug 113 so that the latch arm 47 cannot be turned by manipulation of the key cylinder 106. Only by repositioning the cam projections 73 in the recesses 75 to disengage the detent slot 111 and lug 113 can the latch arm 47 be turned and this can only be effected by turning the night-latch thumb turn 63. Since this thumb turn 63 is within the enclosure, this construction provides an effective night-latch for the closure panel 23 and bars entry from outside the enclosure when actuated.

When the closure panel 23 is in the closed position and the latch arm 47 positioned as shown in FIG. 1, the latch arm 47 is prevented from turning any further in a counterclockwise direction by the edge of the keeper body 87 at the bottom of the aperture 97. Thus, the keeper arm 47 is moved axially in this position by turning the night-latch thumb turn 63 in a counterclockwise direction until the lug 83 on the thumb turn 55 engages the end of the slot 85 in the night-latch thumb turn 63. At this point, the thumb turns 63, 55 are positioned as shown in FIG. 5 and the detent slot and lug 111, 1.13 are engaged. If the night-latch thumb turn 63 is turned in a cloclnwise direction instead, frictional resistance of the spring 77 on the latch bolt 45 is overcome by the turning force thereon imposed by engagement between the side edges of the cam projections and recesses 73, 75 on the thumb turns 63, 55, respectively, and the latch arm 47 swings upwardly or clockwise as seen in FIG. 1.

One of the important features of the present invention is the fact that should the night-latch thumb turn 63 be positioned relative to the thumb turn 55 as seen in FIG. 5 while the closure panel 23 is open, no damage will result to any of the parts even if the closure panel 23 is slammed shut. Thus, when the latch arm enlarged end 163 first engages the keeper body 87, cooperation between the cam surfaces 99, 19 1 swings the latch arm 47 upwardly and prevents the enlarged end 103 from striking the lug 113. In addition, the detent slot 11-1 and lug 113 cannot be engaged except by turning the night-latch thumb turn 63 after the closure panel 23 is closed and the latch arm 47 positioned as shown in FIG. 1 so that one is prevented from locking himself out.

The keeper body 87 is as shown provided with another lug 115 opposite the lug 1-13 to facilitate using the latch assembly 21 on either a right or left-hand operating closure panel 23 by simply placing the keeper 49 and the latch device 43 on the opposite side of the jamb 25 and closure panel 23, respectively.

By the foregoing, there has been disclosed an improved closure latch assembly calculated to fulfill the inventive objects set forth hereinabove, and while a preferred form of the invention has been illustrated and described above in detail, various additions, substitutions, modifications and omissions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as encompassed by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In 1 closure construction of the type having a closure panel slidably disposed in a jamb positioned in an enclosure olpening for movement from an open to a closed position, the improvement which comprises latch means carried by said closure and pivoted about an axis, a keeper on said jamb and adapted to receive said latch means, cooperable shoulder means on said latch means and said keeper adapted to hold said closure in a closed position when said latch is pivotally moved to a first pivoted position, said latch means being pivo-tally movable to a second pivoted position to move said shoulder means out of coo'peralble relation and permit said closure to be opened, coo per'abie detent means on said latch means and keeper for preventing pivotal movement of said latch means out of said first pivoted position, and means on one side of said closure panel for moving said latch means in the direction of said axis from a first position where said detent means is out of cooperative relation to a second position where said detent means is in cooperative relation.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said latch moving means includes cam means.

3. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said detent means includes coopera'ble fixed lug and slot means on said keeper and lat-ch means.

4. A device as defined in claim 1 which includes manually operable means for pivoting said latch means from said first to said second pivoted position.

5. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said latch means and said keeper are provided with cam means cooperalble to position said latch means in said second pivoted position when said latch means is in said first pivoted position during movement of said closure panel to said closed position.

6. A device as defined in claim 4 wherein said manually operable means includes pivotal means connected to said latch means and which includes stop means limiting pivotal movement of said pivotal means.

7. A device as defined in claim 2 which includes manually operable means for pivoting said latch means from said first to said second pivoted position and wherein said cam means is formed between said man-ually operable means and said latch moving means.

8. A device as defined in claim 4:- wherein said manually operable means includes pivotal means connected to said latch means, said latch moving means including another manually operable means overlying said fir'stmentione"d manually operable means and connected to said latch means for movement axially therewith, said last-mentioned manually operable means being turnable relative to said first mentioned manually openable means and said latch means, oooperable cam means between said first and lastmentioned manual ly operable means adapted to move said latch means to its second position to position said detent means in cooperating relation, and resilient means normally biasing said latch means toward said first position.

9. A device as defined in claim '7 which includes stop means for limiting relative movement between said latch moving means and said manually operable means.

r10. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said latch moving means includes manually operable means con nected to said latch means for movement axially there with, said manually operable means being turnalb le relative to said latch means, cam means on said manually operble means adapted to move said latch means to its second position to position said detent. means in cooperating relation, and resilient means normally biasing said latch means toward said first position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 368,595 8/1887 King 292-57 X 878,697 2/1908 Weel 292-87 1,907,625 5/1933 Vogt. 2,357,608 9/1944 Ostrowski 29260 PATRICK A. CLIFFORD, Primary Examiner.

J. R. MOSES, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN CLOSURE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TYPE HAVING A CLOSURE PANEL SLIDABLY DISPOSED IN A JAMB POSITIONED IN AN ENCLOSURE OPENING FOR MOVEMENT FROM AN OPEN TO A CLOSED POSITION, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES LATCH MEANS CARRIED BY SAID CLOSURE AND PIVOTED ABOUT AN AXIS, A KEEPER ON SAID JAMB AND ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SAID LATCH MEANS, COOPERABLE SHOULDER MEANS ON SAID LATCH MEANS AND SAID KEEPER ADAPTED TO HOLD SAID CLOSURE IN A CLOSED POSITION WHEN SAID LATCH IS PIVOTALLY MOVED TO A FIRST PIVOTED POSITION, SAID LATCH MEANS BEING PIVOTALLY MOVABLE TO A SECOND PIVOTED POSITION TO MOVE SAID SHOULDER MEANS OUT OF COOPERABLE RELATION AND PERMIT SAID CLOSURE TO BE OPENED, COOPERABLE DETENT MEANS ON SAID LATCH MEANS AND KEEPER FOR PREVENTING PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID LATCH MEANS OUT 